Ukrainian cuisine

[Drij]

I was just wondering what is fine Ukrainian cuisine, because you think about it, most families post WWII were poor. They brought over what ever cuisine they knew ,and it definately wasn't five star cuisine right, it's all the regular Ukrainian food. I know (sorry to make the comparison) russian food has much higher standards as compared to the norm. So what is Ukrainian fine cuisine??

Drij

[johnstruthers]

I don't know what you mean by Russian high standards, because for the most part Ukrainian food and Russian food are the same (I'm going to start a fight on that one), but fine cuisine could be regarded as the stuff that you put out when you have visitors, and if that's the case, the old standby's are the best: Pel'meni (meat-filled dumplings), puree (mashed potatoes, but really jazzed up with butter, garlic), zharenoe myaso (fried meat of any kind, just fry it real hard and get that taste) then all the good home pickled things like tomatoes (red and green), cucumbers, peppers (which can be sweet-sour), shredded cabbage (like sauerkraut only a little milder). Now, there's crab salad (crab meat, corn, chopped cucmber, chopped egg white, mayonnaise) and salad Olivier (you name it, but potatoes, peas, carrots, ham and mayonnaise are mandatory). Fish under a blanket, I don't know how to make it, but it's great. Herring pleases everyone.

[lisaava]

Anyone interested in Ukrainian cuisine/Russian cuisine should visit RusCuisine.com.It has a wonderful collection of Russian/Ukrainian recipes.

[jutka]

No offense meant,

but most of the simple foods described here (mashed potatos 'jazzed up with garlic', and really really fried meat) doesn't sound all that fine to me. It's fine for regular everyday meals but a special meal should be something more intricate. The salads sound more special.

[Kathy]

I agree jutka. My husband's grandmother came from a noble family, and all those foods were pretty everyday for her. She used to make a stuffed pike, pheasant, and all sorts of fancy pastries and cakes for holidays. I'll try to think of some vegetables.

Coming from peasant stock myself, I'd prefer Vanya's recommendations. I love salad Olivier, but we don't put meat in ours. Also Vanya, do you know that herring/beet/sour cream salad? I've served it to German friends who were a little leery of beets, but loved it.

[jutka]

Originally posted by Kathy
I agree jutka. My husband's grandmother came from a noble family, and all those foods were pretty everyday for her. She used to make a stuffed pike, pheasant, and all sorts of fancy pastries and cakes for holidays. I'll try to think of some vegetables.

Mmmm that's more like it!! When I have my own kitchen I'm going to cook up a storm just like that!! I love rich meats with sauce, with nice vegetables on the side. I don't think I'm going to be making any pastries or cakes at first, my boyfriend doesn't like sweets! can you believe it? LOL For guests it'll be a pleasure though.

Jutka

[Kathy]

I'd be suspicious of anyone who didn't like sweets (just kidding!) I also love sweets, but avoid them. Oddly, I can bake for the kids and not eat it. My husband loves sweets, but he has no other vices, so it's ok.

My husband's grandmother had all sorts of caviar recipes too. When my husband grew up, caviar was very common. If you bought a bar of soap, you had to take a jar of caviar! (Vanya, do you remember this?) Caviar over cracked ice, different recipes for breads to bring out different tastes/textures in caviar, eggs, etc. He knows them all.